Washing machine



Feb. 16. 1925.

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S. L. MELLOR WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. z,'1919 s sheet sneet 2 30 74 5 qm zimaor Feb. 10. I925 S. L. MELLOR WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1919 s sneets sn t s Fatented Feb. 1c, 1925.

UNITED STATES SIDNEY L. MELLQR', OF WHEATON, ILLINOIS.

WASHING MAGHINE.

Application filed September 12, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY L. MnnLon, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vheaton, in the county of Du Page and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ashing Ma chines of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a washing machine and its purpose is to provide improved apparatus for imparting a rocking motion to a clothes containing vessel in combination with means for agitating the clothes within the vessel. The present invention is an improvement upon the apparatus described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 1,280,061, dated September 24, 1918.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for actuating the clothes containing vessel and to provide an independent means for agitating the contents of the vessel. A further object is to provide improved means for imparting a reciprocatory rocking motion to the vessel. Still another object is to provide improved means for compressing and exerting a suction upon the clothes within the vessel. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the follow'ng specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment is illustrated.

In the drawings- Figure 1 shows an end elevation of the washing machine;

Fig. 2 shows a partial end elevation similar to Fig. 1 with a portion of the end frame and the driving mechanism removed;

Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. l: shows a vertical section along the line l-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6, a. transverse sectional view, similar to the view of Fig. 2, shows the adjust ment of the driving connection to the cylinder and illustrates the cylinderafter it has been rocked from its normal position.-

The invention comprises a supporting frame which is made up of four vertically extending posts 11 united by longitudinal side frame members 12 and transverse end frame members 13. This frame is "lindrical walls of the vessel.

may be removed for the purpose of insert Serial No. 328,268.

adapted to sup-port a cylindrical clothes containing vessel 14 which has an outer cylindrical wall 1 1 and end walls 14". The cylindrical wall 14;? is provided along one side thereof with a cover 15 which is secured thereto in any suitable manner to form substantially a continuation of the cy- This cover ing clothes and washing fluid into. the in terior of the vessel. Each end wall of the cylinder 1 1 carries a supporting bracket 113, these brackets being secured to the vessel by means of the rivets 17. The brackets are located above the axis of the cylinder and each bracket comprises a body portion 16 which is spaced from and lies parallel to the adjacent end wall 1%.

Each of the brackets 16 is provided at its middle point with a hub 18 in which is journalled one end of the shafts 19. These shafts are also journalled' in bearings 20 which are secured to the transverse end frame members 13 and the projecting end of one of these shafts carries a fly-wheel 21. This fly-wheel is provided with a. handle 22 so that it may be manually rotated to operate the driving mechan' when desired. The transverse frame men ners 18 are reinforced by vertically ez-rtending frame members 23 located on opposite sides of the ings 20. The shafts 19 support the cylinder 14 and the driving mechanism of the wash-- ing machine is driven through one of these shafts. This driving mechanism comprises a gear 25 which is secured to the shaft 19 on which the fly-wheel 21 is mounted. This gear is located between the bracket 16 and the end wall of the cylinder and it meshes with a gear26 which is secured to a shaft 27 journalled in a bearing 28. Two gears 26 and two shafts 27 are provided and these are journalled in bearings 28 secured to the frame members 13 at opposite ends of the frame. The gears 26 are driven'b-y p'nions 29 which are mounted on a shaft 80 extending longitudinally of the frame beneath the cylinder 14 and journalled in other bearings 31 secured to the frame members The shaft carries at its middle point a worm gear 33 and this worm gear is driven by a Worm 34 mounted on the shaft 35 of an electric motor 36. This motor is supported by longitudinal frame members 37 which are carried by the lower end frame memhere 18.

The mechanism above described serves to oscillate the cylinder and to operate the agitating device therein through connections which are made with the gears 26 at' each end of the cylinder. One arm or spoke 26 of each gear 26 is provided with a series of apertures 40 any one of which may be engaged by a shaft or pin 41 which is secured thereto by means of a nut 42. The inner end of each pin 41 is adapted to engage one of the apertures 43 formed in the adjacent actuating member 44 which is slidably mounted between guide members 45 in a plane containing the axis of the cylinder. These guide members are united at their ends by the transverse members 46 and they are secured to the end walls 14 of the cylinder. Since the gears 26 are mounted on shafts which are located below the axis about which the cylinder rocks, it will be apparent that the rotation of the gears 26 will cause the cylinder to oscillate about the shaft 19 as the actuating members 44 slide up and down between the guide memhere 45 Since the driving connection is made with both ends of the cylinder, a uniform and even motion is imparted to the vessel without undue strain upon the supporting shafts 19.

In addition to performing the function of oscillating the cylinder 14, the reciprocating members 44 serve to actuate the clothes agitating mechanism within the cylinder. The upper ends of actuating mem bers 44 are secured to a longitudinally extending plate or bar 50 which passes through the cylinder and engages radial slots 51 in the end walls thereof. The bar 50 also extends through the opposing slots 53 which are formed in the walls of a plurality of agitating cylinders 54 located within the cylinder. The agitating cylinders 54 are located in alinement with each other with their longitudinal axes intersecting the axis of shafts 19, and the bar 50 is adapted to slide longitudinally of the cylinders 54 when the members 44 are operated by the gears 26. The lower ends of the cylinders 54 pass through circular apertures 55 which are formed in the lower wall 56 of a guard or shield 56. This guard has its end walls se cured. to the end walls of the vessel 14 and it is provided with side walls 56" which extend upwardly and partially inclose the cylinders 54 as illustrated for example in 4 and 5. The upper ends of the cylinders 54 are closed by caps 58 which have apertures 59 therethrough and the lower ends of the cylinders 54 are closed by walls 60 which are provided with perforations 61. When the cylinders 54 are moved downwardly, as hereinafter described, the perforated end walls are adapted to oppose a plate 62 which is secured to the cylindrical wall 14. This plate 62 is provided ith perforations 63 and is spaced upwardly from the wall of the cylinder so that the circulation of the washing fluid beneath this plate is permitted when the fluid is agitated.

The agitating mechanism within the cylinders 54 comprises a series of pistons 65 one of which is mounted on each cylinder and adapted to form a fluid tight connection with the walls thereof. These pistons are provided with stems 66 having apertures 67 extending therethrough. These apertures are reduced in diameter at their upper ends and these reduced portions are adapted to be slidably engaged by bolts 68, having heads which are adapted to engage the lower portions of the apertures. These bolts 68 extend upwardly and'threadedly engage the piston rods 69 which are secured to the bar 50 by means of rivets 70. The bolts 68 are secured in adjusted position by means of nuts 71. Coiled springs 73 are mounted on the stems 66 and on the piston rods 69 and these springs serve normally to maintain the pistons 65 in their lowermost positions with respect to the bar 50. The upper sides of the pistons 65 are united to the upper end walls of the cylinders by means of coiled springs 74, shown particularly in Fig. 5.

In order to protect the agitating cylinders 54 and the mechanism mounted therein, a longitudinal cap member 75 is mounted over the upper ends of these cylinders, the cap member being provided with end flanges 76 which are adapted to slide in guides 77 carried by the end walls of the vessel 14. This cap member 7 5 may be removed to permit.

ready access to the interior of the clothes containing vessel. The inner walls of the vessel 14 are provided with longitudinally extending baffles 78 which are located on opposite sides of the cylinders 54, substantially in alinement with the axis of the vessel 14. These baffi s are preferably V- shaped in cross section and are adapted to deflect the clothes and the water inwardly toward the central part of the cylinders when the vessel is oscillated.

The driving mechanism of the washing machine may be driven through the shaft 30 by means of the electric motor 36 or the machine may be manually operated by means of the handle on the fly-wheel. As the gears 26 rotate they cause the blocks 44 to slide in their guideways thereby imparting an oscillatory movement to the vessel 14 and at the same time causing the bar 50 to slide radially in the slots 51 which are formed in the end walls 14*. As the bar 50 moves inwardly toward the axis of the vessel 14, the pistons 65 are forced downwardly within the cylinders 54 thus expelling the air from the ends of the agitating cylinders through the perforation in the wall 60 and thereby agitating the water and clothes in the lower part of the 535 .19 As the pistons 65 move downwardly the springs 7 4 are put under tension and the cylinders5tare thereby carried with the piston 65 until these agitating cylinders engage the circulating plate 62 or until they engage the clothes which are resting upon the plate '62. The resilient connection between the cylinders 5% and the rod will permit any one ofthe agitating cylinders to come to restwhen sufficient resistance is encountered without interfering with the continued movement of the pistons 65. After the pistons .65 engage the end walls or after the resistance tothe movement of the pistons becomes excessive, the springs 73 will be compressed,

thereby permitting the bar 50 to move downwardly without causing a. corresponding movement of the pistons. hen the pistons move upwardly they create a vacuum and cause air and water to be drawn in through the apertures 61 in the end walls 60 so that the clothes in the'vessel are subject to compression and suction alternately and a thorough circulation of air and water through the clothes is effected This circulation is greatly improved by the circulating plate 62 mounted in the lower part of the vessel 14: since this plate permits air and water to circulate beneath the clothes which are compressed by the cylinders 54. During this operation the shield 56 and the cap serve to prevent the entrance of water into the agitating cylinders. By changing the connections between the members 44 and the gears 26 the amplitude of'the oscillations of the vessel l t and the movements of the agitating cylinders and pistons may be varied as desired.

Although I have shown and described one form of the invention for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other forms without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing cylinder pivotally mounted on said frame, an actuating member for said cylinder slidably mounted on said cylinder transversely'to its pivotal axis, and a rotating member pivotally connected to said actuating member.

2. In a washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing cylinder pivotally mounted in said frame, the pivotal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, an actuating member for said cylinder slidably mounted on the outer side of said cylinder transversely to its longitudinal axis, a rotating driving member, and means for forming a pivotal connection between said driving member and said actuating member at a point displaced from said pivotal axis.

3. In a washing machine, a frame, a

ably mounted in said clothes containing vessel, means connected to said supporting member for actuating the same, a cylinder connected to said supporting member, said cylinder having a perforated end wall, a

piston mounted in said cylinder, and means independent of said actuating means for resiliently connecting said piston to said supporting member.

5. In a washlng machine, a frame, a

.clothes containing vessel pivotally mounted .on said frame, an actuating member for said vessel slidably mounted on the outside of said vessel transversely to its pivotal axis, and a rotating member pivotally connected to said actuating member.

6. In a washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing vessel pivotally mounted on said frame, an actuating member for said vessel slidably mounted on the outside of said vessel transversely to its pivotal axis, a rotating member pivotally connected to 'said actuating member, and means for adjusting the point of pivotal connection between said rotating member and said actuating member.

7. In a washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing vessel pivotally mounted on said frame, actuating members slidably mounted on theends of said vessel for actuating said vessel, rotating members eccentrically connected to said actuating members, and driving mechanism for operating both of said rotating members.

8. In a Washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing vessel pivotally mounted on said frame, actuating members for said vessel slidably mounted on the ends of said vessel, rotating members eccentrically connected to said actuating members, ashaft extending beneath said vessel, means for forming driving connections between said shaft and said rotating members, and means for driving said shaft.

9. In a washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing vessel pivotally mounted on said frame, guide members for said vessel mounted on the ends of said vessel transversely to its pivotal axis, actuating members slidably mounted between said guide members, driving members rotatably mounted on said frame and eccentrically pivotally connected to said actuating members, and means for operating said driving members.

10. In combination, a frame, a clothes containing vessel, brackets secured to said vessel outwardly from its longitudinal axis, shafts secured to said brackets and journaled in said frame, a. gear mounted on one of said shafts, a fiy-wheel mounted on the shaft on which the gear is carried, a second gear mounted on said frame and meshing with said first named gear, and an actuating member slidably mounted on the end of said vessel and eccentrically pivotally connected to said second named gear.

11. In a washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing vessel pivotally mounted on said frame, a guideway secured on the outer side of said vessel transversely of its pivotal axis, an actuating member mounted in said guideway, a rotating member mounted on said frame and pivotally connected to said actuating member, clothes agitating means mounted in said vessel to reciprocate transversely to its longitudinal axis, and operating connections between said clothes agitating means and said actuating member.

12. In a washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing vessel pivotally mounted on said frame, a guideway secured to said vessel transversely of its pivotal axis, an actuating member mounted in said guideway, a rotating member mounted on said frame and pivotally connected to said actuating member, said vessel having a slot therein, a bar attached to said actuating member and entering said slot, and cl thes agitating means mounted within said vessel and operated by the movements of said bar.

13. In a washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing vessel pivotally mounted in said frame, said vessel having radial slots through the end walls thereof extend ing transversely to its pivotal axis, a bar engaging said slots and extending through said vessel, actuating members mounted at the ends of said vessel on its outer side and connected to said bar, means for operating said actuating members, and clothes agitating means mounted within said vessel and actuated by said bar.

14. In a Washing machine, a frame, a clothes containing vessel pivotally mounted in said frame, said vessel having radial slots inthe end walls thereof extending transversely to its pivotal axis, a bar engaging said slots and extending through said vessel, actuating members mounted at the ends of said vessel and connected to said bar, a clothes agitating cylinder mounted within said vessel, a piston mounted in said cylinder and connected to said bar, and means for operating said actuating members to reciprocate said bar.

15. In a washing machine, a clothes con taining vessel, a cylinder slidably mounted in said vessel, a piston mounted in said cylinder, and an actuating member resiliently connected to said piston and adapted to move said cylinder after a predetermined movement of said piston.

16. A washing machine comprising a tub, eccentric pivots on which the tub is adapted to be oscillated, means for oscillating the tub, a reciprocable washing means within the tub and carried thereby, and means whereby the tub may be oscillated and said reciprocable means operated concomitantly.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

SIDNEY L. MELLOR. 

